David Cameron has made a complaint to the president of the European commission after a senior official said Britain could be seen as a "nasty country" for cutting benefits to EU migrants.

In a call with José Manuel Barroso, Cameron registered his unhappiness about the comments of Laszlo Andor, the EU employment commissioner, saying it was inappropriate behaviour for an official paid for by British and other European taxpayers.

Sources said he made it clear that when elected European leaders are raising real and substantive concerns about an issue affecting people it is not for officials to dismiss those without any discussion.

Cameron raised the complaint as he arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania, to attend the Eastern Partnership Summit, where he will highlight concerns about free movement.

At the meeting, the prime minister will say: "I support association agreements. I support enlargement. But we can't do that without addressing abuse of free movement and how it works in future. That's what my FT article is about and I look forward to discussing it with you."